Folding starting-crank for motor-vehicles.



V. LINK. FOLDING STARTING CRANK IOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.15, 1909.

1,059,675, Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

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V. LINK.

4 FOLDING STARTING 01mm FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1909 1 Q59,675 Patented M11122, 1913.

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VINCENT LINK, 0E DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOPACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OFvticnrenn.

FOLDING STARTXNG-QRANK FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Patented Apr. 22, i 9113.

Application filed February 15, 1909. Serial No. 477,933.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, Vmcerrr LINK, a citizenof the United States, and resident of Detroit, in the county of Wayneand State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Folding Starting Cranks for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following isa specification. v

This invention relates to motor vehicles and particularly to a startingcrank therefor which may be folded. I

The inventionis shown as applied to the starting shaft of a truck motor.

In most trucks in which the crank shaft of the motor is arranged.longitudinally near the front of the vehicle, a starting crank isemployed which projects forwardly of the frame in order that it may bein convenient position for cranking the motor. On account of itsposition therefore, the starting crank is frequently bent or broken bycontact with obstructions met with in the use of the truck. Detachablestarting cranks have been used to some extent, but are an satisfactorybecause they are liable to be lost.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a starting crankwhich will project beyond the frame in convenient position for use instarting the motor and which when not in use may be folded to a safeposition within the margin of the frame where it will be protected fromaccidental injury. Notwithstanding its ability to fold, the structure ofthe crank is such that it makes a firm and rigid connection with thestart ing shaft, when in operative position.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a side elevation of the forward part of amotor truck, showing the starting crank projecting in operativeposition; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the truck shown in Fig. 1 withthe starting crank in folded position in full lines and in operativeposition in dotted lines; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectionthrough the forward part of the truck frame and the starting crank andconnections,

taken on the line 3-''3 of Fig. .2 Fig. 4 is a bottom view of thestarting crank shown in Fig. 3; Fig. is a view similar to Fig. l withthe starting crank ready to fold; and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4with the starting crank folded.

Various parts of the motor truck shown in the various figures may bedesignated as follows: 1 is the frame, 2 the front wheel, 3 theradiator, 4 the hood, 5 the dash, 6 the front spring and 7 the fronthanger there for.

8 represents the dust pan extending between the forward part of thecrank case and the front cross beam of the frame.

The front cross bar 9 of the frame is shown in section in Fig. 3 andsecured thereto by a steel strap 10 is a wood beam 11 which beam andstrap act as a front bumper for the truck. It is intended that thisbumper shall take any shocks due to collision with vehicles or otherobstacles in the operation of the truck. Referring further to Fig. 3, afragment of the motor crank case 12 is shown, housing the crank shaft 13on the forward end of which. is a clutch member 14 which cooperates withthe clutch member 15 on the rear end of the starting shaft 16. whichlatter shaftis yieldably held in inoperative position by a. suitablespring 17. it will be seen that the starting shaft is journaled in asuitable packed bearing 18 in the forward end of the crank case and in abracket 19 bolted to the cross bar 9 and bumper ll of the frame. v

Heretofore, the starting crank has ordinarily been securely keyed to thefront end of the shaft 16 and when not in use would hang as illustratedin Fig. 1, then being the mo. forward part of the vehicle and in aposition where it would be liable to he injured by collisions assuggested above. in the present invention a transverse cylindrical key20 passes through a suitable opening near the forward end of thestarting shaft 16 and issecured thereto by a pin :21, and the startingcrank- 22 is formed with a. hollow cylindrical hub 23 which is adapted'to loosely fit the forward end of the starting shaft 16 and is providedwith oppositely disposed longitudinal slots or keyways 2+: in which theprojecting ends of the key 20 adapted to slide. The rear end of the hubis somewhat cut away between the slots 2 thus leaving cars containingthose slots. and with this construction it will be seen upon referenceto Figs. to i that the crank 22 may be drawn forward relative to theshaft 1 ill from its position shown in Figs. 3 ancli; lo the positionshown in Fig. and when in said latter position the crank may he turnedhodil on the key '20 as a pivot into the posi' tion shown in Fig. 6,wherein the hub of the starting crank is ata right angle to the 1 beam11 to house the handle 27 of the starting crank. The construction of thespring clip 25 is fully illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and need notbe'further described.

It willbe noted that a rearward force applied to the crank will lock thesame against folding movement on the starting shaft while a forwardmovement will unlock the same so that it can be moved to foldingposition. This is a convenient arrangement since a rearward movement isnecessarily given to the crank and the starting shaft so as to clutchthe starting shaft wit-h the crank shaft. Therefore by applying arearward force to the crank this crank is simultaneously locked on thestarting shaft and the starting shaft is thrown into engagement. withthe crank shaft.

.' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the frame and a bumperthereon, of a hydrocarbon motor carried by said frame, a starting shaftfor said motor, a starting crank connected to said shaft projectingbeyond,,said bumper, and means for folding said crank to a positionwithin the margin of said bumper.

2. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the vehicle frame, of-ahydrocarbon motor carried thereby, a starting shaft for said motor, astarting crank connected to said shaft projecting beyond said frame,means for folding said crank to a position within the margin of saidframe, and means for securing'said folded crank to said frame.

3. In a motor vehicle, the combination carbon'motor carried by theframe, a starting crank for said motor projecting beyond said bumper,means for folding said crank, the said bumper being provided with arecess to receive the handle of said crank when folded, and a springcatch on the frame for engaging the arm of said crank and retaining itin folded position.

5. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the vehicle frame, of ahydrocarbon motor carried by said frame, a starting shaft for saidmotor, a starting crank connected 'to said shaft and projecting beyondthe forward part of said .frame, and means for folding said crank to aposition Within the margin of the front of said frame.

6. In a motor vehicle, the combination with the vehicle frame, of 'ahydrocarbon motor carried by said frame, a radiator on the front of saidframe, a starting shaft for said motor, a. starting crank connected tosaid shaft and projecting beyond the radiator, and means for foldingsaid crank un-' derneat-h the radiator.

7. The combination with an automobile frame and the crank-shaft of anautomobile,

of a longitudinally movable starting crank.

supported by the automobile frame and adapted to be moved out ofalinement with the crank-shaft and means for holding the crank in saidposition.

, In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of twoWitnesses. I

VINCENT LINK.

\Vitnesses:

C. I. DALE,

If). N. HEARN.

